Did anyone add a light to their old top loading boat fridge? As far as I know it's pretty rare to have one. Is there a reason? Do new yachts have lights In their fridges nowadays? If you added a light how did you do it? I've read most fridge reno threads here but can't remember having seen anything about a light..
I'm in the process of installing new evaporator and new compressor and this would be a good to add a light, share same wire pulls etc.

I picked up a few of these [http://amzn.to/29eTYo0] Motion activated battery powered led sticky lights. I figured they'd die every year or so, but the one in the fridge has been going for nearly 18 months. Can't complain for $10.

don't have a fridge these days too much hassle / but when we did the led headlamp worked well / turn headlamp on- look in direction of fridge - open fridge - add or remove fridge contents - close fridge / also works for navigating to and from fridge

Did anyone add a light to their old top loading boat fridge? As far as I know it's pretty rare to have one. Is there a reason? Do new yachts have lights In their fridges nowadays? If you added a light how did you do it? I've read most fridge reno threads here but can't remember having seen anything about a light..
I'm in the process of installing new evaporator and new compressor and this would be a good to add a light, share same wire pulls etc.

We have a 12V LED strip light with a rocker switch for our fridge. Makes plenty of light for overnight passages.

Location: Currently on the boat, somewhere on the ocean, living the dream

Boat: Morgan 461 S/Y Flying Pig

Posts: 1,425

Re: Light for 12V boat fridge or freezer

Quote:

Originally Posted by conachair

I used a cheap micro switch with a 9v battery and some led strip. Well worth the effort, helps loads.

I use a NO/NC magnetic reed switch.

In the closed position, the circulation fan and when needed, the spillover fan (both computer type fans) run.

In the open position, both fans are disabled and the LED pucks light up.

Mount the reed on the back of the frame, and the magnet on the door. I made my reefer door magnet mount with velcro rather than the furnished double-stick tape; I sometimes remove it in order to prove out the switch in either the reefer (as described) or the freezer, which controls only the circulation fan and lights. To try to control the compressor with that switch would not be a good idea, but it works well for the spillover, making it not pull cold from the freezer if it happened to be in the 'call' mode when the doors open.

I got mine from an alarm supply outfit. NO/NC will give you center positive and leads to the two circuits you want, and if you have a feed from whatever thermostat circuit you use, it's trivial to wire up.

I mounted a red/white light under the cabinet above the top loading door of our fridge. It is also useful when working on the countertop next to the fridge. The red LED is great at night and the white LED is plenty bright when needed.

I bought a replacement automotive dome light from Advance Auto and installed both it and a small 12V computer fan from Radio Shack in the top of my fridge. +1 for both. +2 for my wife's better attitude. With the light we can see in fridge, and with the fan the top and bottom of the fridge are at about the same temperature. The fan runs all the time the "cabin lights / cabin fans" breaker is on, and the light runs when the same breaker is on and its switch is on.